Chi Wan, on the other hand, spent a very pleasant and fulfilling night at Li Xingye’s base.

To Qiangzi and the others, if Li Xingye was the pillar that had always supported them, then Chi Wan was the beam of light that cut through the endless darkness.

Now, that light had appeared right before their very eyes.

Everyone might have been a bit reserved at first, but Chi Wan had an outgoing personality. Besides, while they had never formally met, they weren’t exactly strangers, with Li Xingye as the bridge connecting them.

So, everyone quickly warmed up to each other.

Since they had agreed it was a celebration, Li Xingye had even asked Chi Wan to help him prepare a batch of low-alcohol drinks.

But it had been too long since they’d had a drink. After just a few cups, the eyes of Qiangzi, a tough-as-nails man, reddened in an instant.

Braving Li Xingye’s piercing gaze, he insisted on grabbing Chi Wan’s hand and shaking it vigorously, choking back sobs as he said, "Wanwan, do you know? In my heart, you’re a miracle sent to us from heaven! Back then, I was one step away from starving to death. My only worry was what would happen to Qianqian."

"I... You don’t know, the first time Qianqian ate the meat skewers you sent, I, a grown man, hid from her and just howled. I couldn’t stop myself! Wanwan, really, thank you so, so much!" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Haozi and Cheng Peng were among the first to receive the life-saving food. Although they laughed at Qiangzi for being so emotional, their own eyes were red as well.

Only those who have experienced true despair can understand the true weight of hope itself.

Qianqian smiled through her tears. She knew she had always been a "burden" to her brother, but since he refused to give up on her, she couldn’t bring herself to give up on her own life, either.

Fortunately, they had truly made it through.

Although Liang Yushuang had joined the base later, she had a straightforward personality and was clear about her loves and hates.

Her small team, just like her, had integrated with the group without much trouble.

Although she hadn’t experienced their earlier struggles, she knew it was precisely because Li Xingye had Chi Wan backing him that they could now let down their guard and live a relatively normal life.

So she, along with Xiao Liu and a few others, toasted Chi Wan. "Miss Chi, we may have arrived late, but I’m afraid that for the next ten years, whenever we think of the word ’hope,’ we’ll remember the crisp, sweet apple from when we first met the Chief."

Everyone present could relate to that sentiment.

Although Chi Wan felt she hadn’t done as much as they claimed, it was hard not to be moved by such profound and sincere enthusiasm.

She cheerfully accepted every toast. Although she was drinking low-alcohol fruit wine, it quickly started to get to her head.

As for Qiangzi and the others, filled with renewed hope for the future and the joy of moving to a new base, they took this chance to let it all out. Soon they were in small groups, crying and laughing. It was a complete mess.

Li Xingye also seemed a little tipsy. He looked down at the "chaotic revelry" and knew that everyone had been quite repressed over the years. It was a good thing they had a chance like this to release their emotions.

Looking around, the other residents of the base also had relaxed and happy smiles on their faces. They sat on the ground around the bonfires, and the heavy gloom brought on by the apocalypse seemed to have been mostly swept away.

Li Xingye smiled and put an arm around the slightly dazed Chi Wan, whispering, "Wanwan, drink a little less."

Chi Wan leaned against Li Xingye, her cheeks flushed. "Brother Xingye, I’m so happy. I didn’t think this far ahead at the beginning, but the thought that people are living better because of me... even though I didn’t really do that much... I’m just so, so happy..."

Li Xingye’s fingers brushed against her cheek as he murmured, "You’ve already done so well."

Chi Wan didn’t hear what Li Xingye was saying. She just leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Brother Xingye, don’t worry, I’ve already started looking for ’connections.’ Soon, I’ll be able to get in touch with the government, and then I can do more for you all. My senior’s mentor might be even more impressive than I thought."

Li Xingye helplessly tapped her nose. "I know I shouldn’t be jealous about this, but every time I hear another man’s name from your lips, I always feel a little sour."

Only at times like this, when Chi Wan was dazed and tipsy, could he so boldly voice his own dark little thoughts.

Chi Wan just giggled foolishly. "Brother Xingye, have I ever told you you’re super handsome? It’s like every single part of you is... hmm, perfectly my type! And you dared to lie and say everyone’s afraid of you. Hmph, you big liar! You’re so good-looking, I like you so much..."

Li Xingye’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He helplessly pulled Chi Wan a little tighter—heaven knows it was taking all of his self-control not to kiss her.

A Chi Wan this passionate and direct was so cute it made his heart tremble.

After a moment, he let out a low sigh. "So, Wanwan only likes me for my looks?"

But Chi Wan shook her head. Even though she could barely focus her eyes, she said with a serious expression, "Of course not! Gentle Brother Xingye is handsome, but you’re also handsome when you’re all cold while fighting zombies. And when you do the most ruthless things with a straight face, you’re handsome beyond words..."

Li Xingye couldn’t help but laugh. ’After all that, isn’t it still about my face?’

He finally couldn’t resist. Quick and stealthy as a thief, he pecked a kiss on Chi Wan’s cheek. ’It’s this face’s good fortune that Wanwan likes it,’ he thought with satisfaction.

Chi Wan, who may or may not have heard him, just mumbled to herself, "But Brother Xingye is just... good in every way..."

Li Xingye whispered, "It’s Wanwan who’s good in every way."

So good that he liked her so much he didn’t know what to do.

*

The bonfire party lasted late into the night. In the plaza, the fires lit with superpowers burned all night long.

This rare indulgence also caused the entire base to fall silent in the latter half of the night.

But at the same time, someone was using their drunkenness as a cover, coldly surveying everything in the base.

He knew this might be his best chance.

Although he wasn’t confident he could take on Li Xingye, he could sense that the woman in Li Xingye’s arms was just an ordinary person with no superpower.

This woman, who had appeared so suddenly, seemed to be very familiar with the core members of the base, yet he hadn’t seen her during the migration.

Most importantly, he had never seen Li Xingye show such an expression to any woman.

But strangely, in all the many endings of the future he had "seen," this woman’s shadow had never appeared.

Perhaps, if he captured this woman, he would find out why Li Xingye’s fate had deviated so drastically in this life...

After sending a few commands with a signal transmitter, the man pulled up his hood, and his figure gradually vanished into thin air.